Telephone adapter for hearing aids



Nov. 17, 1953 J. F. OHARA 2,659,772

TELEPHONE ADAPTER FOR HEARING AIDS Filed Sept. 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 vie l9 5 i E 32 I3 E i L FIG. 2A

II///////////////////I/I W/flflf/fi fi IN V EN TOR.

' JANVIER FOHARA BY Nov. 17, 1953 J F, O'HARA 2,659,772

TELEPHONE ADAPTER FOR HEARING AIDS Filed Sept. 13, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

95 so 94 as 97 a2 96 ILJ INVENTOR.

JANVIER F. O'HARA BY F l G I 2 INVENTOR.

1953 J. F. O'HARA TELEPHONE ADAPTER FOR HEARING AIDS 5 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1948 |22A I28 I26 I27 I29 24 I30 FIG. l3

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JANVIER F. O'RARA FIG.I5

jm/ic'm Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED S'lA'life? OFFICE 12 Claims. I

This invention relates to a hearing aid. More particularly the invention relates to apparatus to fa ltate the use of telephones by people having impai hearing.

The conventional hearing aid used by persons with subnornial hearing comprises microphone, amplifier, amplifier batteries, and an air or bone convection ear receiver. The microphone and ainplif er are generally enclosed in a case worn an inconspicuous place about the users person to receive and amplify sound communicated to the user. 1.1-e amplifier batteries may be included the case out also he carried elsewhere on the person. The ear receiver, depending upon its type, is mounted in or behnid the Wearers ear and is connected to the amplifier by suitable wires.

Such apparatus is Well suited for the purpose increasing the audibility of conversational unicaticn but is not entirely satisfactory as to telephoning. This is particularly true the more modern telephones in which the and receiver are mounted on the same hand grip. Heretoiore hearing aid users have to depend on holding the telephone receiver as close possible to the hearing aid micro- This procedure is difiicult, and resuits in appreciable loss of sound volume from the telephone receiver to the hearing aid.

accordance with the present invention I provide an e-fiicient and at the same simple and oonveni nt apparatus for transmitting sound in a telephone to a hearing aid. The hearing aii is used an adjunct to my apparatus to the sound transmitted thereto and to to the r ceiver of the hearing aid.

I carry out my invention by the provision in a hearing ai including a microphone, amplifier, a? ear reoeiv r, the combination comprising an ar sound pickup means adapted to he held o nnst a telephone receiver, and means conne to the sound pickup means and detachably conn cted to the hearing aid for transmitting from the sound pickup means to the nect wires directly from. the amplifier to a jack mounted in the hearing aid case. Similarly, wires lead from the pickup device to a plug. Intern dilate the jack in the cas and the aforementi ned plug I provide a so-called extension cord having a jack at one and a plug at the opposite end. In use is convenient to plug the extension cord into the hearing aid case, carrying the cord into a shirt pocket or houtonniere or the like so that the jack of the extension cord will he in a readily accessible location. The pickup device, together with its length of cord may be carried in the pocket, pocket book or the like. When the device is to be put in use for telephoning the pickup means may be simply and quickly plugged into the jack: of the extension cord and placed against the telephone receiver. Immediately the apparatus is in operable condition and the user commence a conversation on the telephone with no longer delay than that necessary to plug into the jack. Furthermore, the position of the amplifier and microphone case with respect to the wearefs clothing is immaterial when such an extension cord system is employed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the sound pickup means comprises a microphone, similar to the hearing aid microphone, disposed in a disk shaped housing which b normally held or clipped to the telephone receiver. The microphone in the sound pickup is connected dirvctiy to the amplifier of the he aid, by passing the hearing aid microphone. With the two microphones thus connected in parallel to the amplifier, it is possible for the user to hear simultaneously a telephone conversation and any other soun..s cri hating in the vicinity of the user.

The invention Will he more clearly understood with reference to the following detailed description taken n conjunction with accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a view of one form of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of another form of the apparatus showing the application of sound carrying extension means;

2A is no :pective detail of one form of sound carrying eatension means;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of a third form of the apparatus;

Fig. i is a section. view of a snap fastener adapted to replace the plug jacks;

sound pickup means;

6 enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the pickup means shown in Fig.

fig. 7 is partial sectional elevation similar to Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation view partly in section showing one means of attaching the pickup means to the phone;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of another form of pickup means;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a third form of pickup means;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view partly in section of an acoustic form of the apparatus;

Fig. 12 is an elevation View partly in section of an extension means for use with the acoustic conducting apparatus;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation showing a modification of the apparatus of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation showing a modiflcation in the apparatus of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a diagram of one assembly;

Fig. 16 is a diagram of an alternative assembly;

1 shows a microphone l0 and an amplifier ll of a conventional hearing aid enclosed in a case [2. The microphone is connected by wires l3, M to the amplifier which in turn is connected by wires l5, IE to the ear receiver (not shown). A jack I8 is mounted in a wall of the case if! and is connected by wires l9. 2" to the amplifier I l in parallel with the microphone In. Sound pickup means 22 is adapted to be held or alhved to the tele hone receiver as hereinafter described and is connected throu h a cable 23 to a plug 24.

In usin the device of Fig. 1 the pickup means 22 is carried in a pocket or handbag and when it is desired to telephone the plug 24 is inserted into the jack [8 in the case, and the pickup 22 held or attached to the tele hone receiver.

The apparatus of Fig. 2 includes the same elements as that of Fi 1, namely microphone l8 connected to an am lifier l I both disposed in the case I 2 having a jack H3 in a wall thereof and sound pickup 22 connected to the plug 24. In this apparatus I provide an extension means havin a plug 2 adapted to be inserted in th jack 1 ll and a lack 28 adapted to receive the plus; 24, the plu 26 and the jack 28 beine connected by a cable 28. With this ap aratus the plug may be permanently inserted in the jack !8 and carried out through the clothing to a shirt pocket or other convenient location. For this purpose the jack 28 is provided with a clip 30 by means, of which it can be attached to cloth ng. When it is desired to use the a paratus of Fig. 2 the plug 24 need only be inserted in the jack 28 and it is ready for operation.

One form of an extension means is shown in pers ective in 2A and includes plug 32 connected t roua'h. a cable 33 to a double iack 34. The double ack 34 has a pair of sockets 35, 35, t e socket 35 beinr: connected throu h the cable 33 to the plug 32 and the so ket 36 bein a dummv and not connected to the clu 32, The jack al o has a clip 38 for attaching it to clothin'r. The purpose of the double socket is to prov de permanent ho s nc for a lus. say plus 24 of the a aratus of Fig. 2. that can be easily located in the dummv soc et 35 and inserted in the live socket 35. This a paratus is narticularlv suited for mens wear inasmuch as the plus 34 may he clip edv to the same shirt pocket in which the sound pickup me ns 22 is carried.

The a aratus of 3 is iden cal to that of Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception of the extension means Ml which is provided on either end with plugs 4|, t2 and the sound pickup means which has mounted therein a jack M.

In Fig. l there is shown in section a snap connector which may be used to replace any of the plug jacks illustrated in the foregoing embodiments. In the snap connector, cable 50, lead ing from either the sound pickup means or a plug, is lead into a housing 5i and the cable wires are separated and attached to contact points 53 in the bottom face of the housing. The corn tact 53 is an annular snap ring extending partially across a socket 54 in the housing. A second cable 56 leading to a plug tip or to the hearlnc: aid itself is lead into a second housing 58 wherein the wires are separated and to contacts 59, B0. The contact forms a snap fastener adapted to engage the snap ring 53 in the socket 54. The contact 59 comprises an annular metal ring disposed in an annular groove 62. When the housings 5| and 553 are snapped together, contact 52 contacts the annular ring 59, the fastener being free to swivel without breaking the circuit. The housing 58 is provided with a second snap fastener 63 which may be snapped onto any appropriate part of the users clothing.

A sound pickup means such the means 22 shown in any of Figs. 1, 2 or 3 is illustrated in section in Fig. 5 and includes a case 'lll having a cavity 12 enclosed by a perforated cover '13. A microphone "M is disposed in the cavity to pick up sound issuing from the telephone receiver it against which the case l9 is held.

It is essential that the microphone M be of a type adapted to function simultaneously with the hearing aid microphone through the single amplifier. Though it is not necessary that they identical it is convenient to employ a crystal microphone in the sound. pickup if a crystal microphone is used in the hearing aid. Carbon type microphones are fast becoming obsolete in hearing aids and for all practical purposes the apparatus of the invention can be constructed with a crystal. type microphone.

Case 10 in the apparatus of 5 has an annu lar flange 10A. which extends down and around the telephone receiver it. A resilient gasket is mounted around the lower inner edge of the fian-e 10A to hold the housing 10 to the telephone receiver lii. This resilient gasket is shown in enlarged section in 6 and may be fabricated of rubber, resilient plastic or the like. The gasket takes the form of a hollow rib which is slightly compressed by insertion over the te1ephone r ceiver, thereby holding the housing it on the receiver.

A second form of gasket is shown in '7 wherein the gasket l9 comprises an annular resilient band prov ding a friction fit between the annular lip MA and the telephone receiver 16.

St ll. another means of holdine the sound pickup means on the tele hone eiver is shown in Fi wherein the housin'r in is provided with c flexible rubber band afiiized at opposite ends to diametricallv opposite sides of the housing Ill. Ev sli ping the band ill under the rib 15A of the telephone receiver the housing in is held against the speaker of the receiver.

A modification of the sound pickup means is shown in sectional elevation in 9. In this fiqure housing 82 has annular flange 83 threaded internallv to engage the threaded telephone receiver fi l when the can (not shown). normally forming a part thereof, is removed. As

in the foregoing embodiment the housing .82 has a central cavity 85 enclosed by -a cap 81 perforated at 8%, to etc. A microphone 90 disposed in the cavity picks up the sound projected from the receivers through the perforations 88, 89, etc. The sound is delivered from the microphone through a cabl 2 to the hearing-aid amplifier as above The device of Fig. 5 designed to be a more or less permanent attachment to a telephone. The upper wall of the cavity 86 is perforated at M, 95, etc. and the housing is flared outwardly from the perforated section to simulate the normal megaphone type construction of a tale phone receiver. An annular recess 9. .5 separates the microphone containing cavity from the annular flange and o ens into the cavity through a number of passag' ys, the passageway 97 being shown in the dr Sound issuing from the telephone receiver travels both through the perforations t9 and through the annular passageway cavity outwardly through the perforations 9t, An idividu'al having normal hearing can use the apparatus shown in Fig. '6 Without interference. lit the same time an in dividual having impaired hearing may use the apparatus of 6 by connecting the cable 92 to the hearing amplifi r as described.

A simplified form of apparatus is shown in Fig. 10. This embodiment of the invention is adapted to be manually held against the telephone receiver ltd and includes a housing M2 having a perforated lace plate and enclosing a microphone lii l. As in the foregoing embodiment the microphone MM is connected through a cable H35, through 'exte on cord if desired, to the amplifier of the honing aid.

The preferred form of the telephone attachment ir accordance with the invention is that employv microphone connected in one of the various m nners shown to the hearing aid amplifier. However, I have made a less expensive telephone adapter including many of the features of the preferred adapter but employmg acoustical rather than electrical transmissions.

The apparatus shown. in Fig. 11 comprises a cup shaped sound pickup Hill which may be held manually against the telephone receiver l i l and which is connected to an acoustic tube H2. A snap fastener i it on the outer end of the acoustic tube H2 is adapted to snap within a receptacle QM mounted on a portion of the outer case of a conventional hearing aid H5. Sound transmitted through acoustic tube H2 is introduced into the hearing and picked up by the microphone I i and is amplified in the hearing aid and transin. i to the ear receiver.

As in the case of the microphone souhipickup apparatus have also found it desirable to provide separate extension means for acoustic transmission the sound pickup to the hearing aid microphone in the apparatus of Fig. 11. Such means are shown in Fig. 12 and include a snap plug M3 on the outer end of the acoustic tube ii 2 and an extension tube i it having a snap plug lit at one end and a snap socket .120 at the opposite end. As in the foregoing embodiment, the socket 52d may be provided with a clip for attaching it to the clothing and the plug i it may be connected directly to the microphone of the hearing aid. At such time as it is desired to use the acoustic pickup I W it is only necessary to insert the plug 5 l3 into the socket I28. However, when the acoustic pickup HO is not employed, attachment of the plug US to the snap ring H4 of the hearing aid will not interfere with the efiiciency of the hearing aid for its normal use.

Fig. 13 shows an acoustic pickup $22 similar in construction to the pickup ill! but having an annular flange 422A to which a resilient gasket [23 .is affixed. Gasket I23 may be identical to the gasket 18 shown in Fig. 6 or the gasket 18 shown in Fig. '7, and serves the purpose of holding the sound pickup E22 to a telephone receiver HI. Alternatively an elastic band may be used in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 to hold the pickup on the receiver.

Fig. 14 shows application of a snap plug 524 to an acoustic receiver IN. .A passageway till, leading from the cavity l28 opens on the outside of the housing i126 and is provided with a. snap ring I 29 to retain the snap plug i724. Plug 524 is mounted on the end of an acoustic tube 933, the other end of which may be connected directly to the hearing aid case or to a plug and socket assembly of an extension tube.

The various embodiments of the acoustic pickup device shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are illustrated. diagrammatically in Figs. 15, 16. Thus in Fig. 1.5 an acoustic pickup, say pickup 222, is connected through an acoustic tube 524 to a snap plug I25 which may be connected oilrectly to a snap socket E26 affixed to the outer case or" the hearing aid i125.

In Fig. 16 the acoustic pickup M2 is connected through an acoustic tube 526 to a snap plug 525. An extension tube 139 is provided at one end with a snap socket i3i adapted to receive the plug 525 and at the other end with a snap plug 132 adapted to fasten in the socket i215 mounted on the grill work of the hearing aid 28.

I have described and illustrated improvements in hearing aid telephone adapters, involving improvements in sound pickup, improvements in means for holding the adapter to the telephone receiver and improvements in sound transmission all of which simplify and improve telephonic communication by persons of impaired hearing.

I claim:

1. In. combination with. a hearing aid having a microphone, amplifier and ear receiver, a sound pickup means remote from the hearing aid amplifier and microphone and adapted to be held against a telephone receiver and including an auxiliary microphone, and means for detachably connecting the auxiliary microphone to the hearing aid amplifier in parallel with the hea lng microphone.

2. In combination W "1 a hearing aid having a microphone and amp er in a case a; e receiver connected to the amplifier, a sou up means remote from the hearing aid 2 and microphone and including a housing to be detachably held against a tele ceiver, an auxiliary 'inicrophone dispose housing, and means tor detac y connec the auxiliary microphone to the ring aniplifier in parallel with the hearing aid microphone.

3. vIn. combination with a hearing having a microphone and amplifier in a case ear receiver connected to the amplifier, a sound piclo up means-including a housing adapted. to be detachably held against a telephone receiver remote from the hearing aid amplifier, an auxiliary microphone disposed in the housing, a jack mounted in a Wall of the hearing aid case and connected to the amplifier in parallel With the hearing aid aesavva microphone, a pair of wires leading from the auxiliary microphone, an extension cord. having a plug at one end. adapted to be inserted in the jack, and a snap fastener adapted to connec the pair of wires to the other end of the extension cord.

4. Apparatus according: to claim 2 wherein the means for detachably c necting the auxiliary microphone to the hem amplifier coinprises a jack. mounted. in wall of the hearing case and being connected to the amplifier in allel with the hearing d microphone, a of wires leading from the .uxiliary microphone and connected to a plug adapted to be inserted in the jack.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein th means for detachably connecting microphone to the hearing ampl tier c. prises a first jack mounted in the wall or hear- .ing aid. and being connected to the amplifier in parallel v" first pair of crophono ant connectecl to a p means including I second of w of each of the of res connected to a second jack. arlap to receive the first mentioned. plug, the o aosite end oi each of the oncl pair of wires being connected to a second plug adapted to be inserte' in the jack, and. a clip aifixeii to the for clipp the same to the users clothing. 30

6. Apparatus accor to claim 3 where n. the snap fastener comprises :6 st housing havi snap ring socket in one face thereof, one of s itl two wires being connected to the snap other of the two wires proecting' om the face of the housif and. spaced extension cord, and having a first button ad teal to snap within the snap ring, an annular g core in a [ace of the second housing" having a nular metal ring disposed the n adapted to contact other of said two w. the ext 1-- sicn cord. being connected to the b ton and to the annular rirc, and a second button on an opposite iacc the second. hous for attaching the some to the users cloth g.

7. In combination with. hearing aid having a microphone and an amplifier connected, and mounted in a common housing, anal an receiver connected to the amplifier output, the i1nprovelnent comprising electrical, connection means mounted. with respect to said housing so as to be accessible from the exterior thereof,

microphone in the hou and an aux ry l detaohably connected to said. connection .ns whereby the auxiliary microphone is connected to said amplifier.

8. In combination with a hearing aid having a microphone anti. an amplifier in a and. an ear receiver c necterl to the output of the arm plifier, r microphone, jack plug receptacle mounted. in wall. of the hearing case and connected to the input of the amplifier, an extension cord having a jack plug at on encl and connected. at the othe end to the auxiliary microphone, the plug encl of the extension cord being adapted to be inserted in the jack plug reexteriorly of and. remote from the hearing case.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the housing comprises a disk-shaped body enclosing a chamber between opposite perforate faces, a microphone disposed in the chamber including a continuous air space between the opposite perforate faces of the body and by-passing the microphone, and an electrical connector in a Wall of the body connected internally to the microphone.

10. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for detachably connecting the auxiliary microphone to the hearing aid amplifier comprises a first electrical connector mounted in a Wall of the hearing aid case and being connected to the amplifier in parallel with the hearing aid microphone, a pair of Wires leading from the auxiliary microphone and connected to a second electrical connector adapted to be connected to the first electrical connector.

11. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for detachably connecting the auxiliary microphone to the hearing aid amplifier comprises a first electrical connector connected to the amplifier in parallel with the hearing aid microphone and accessible exteriorly of the case, a pair of wires leading from the auxiliary microphone and connected to a second electrical connector adapted to be connected to the first electrical connector.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for detachably connecting the auxiliary microphone to the hearing aid amplifier cornprises a first electrical connector connected to the amplifier in parallel with the hearing aid microphone and accessible exteriorly of the case, a second electrical connector associated with the auxiliary microphone and. accessible exteriorly of the housing containing the auxiliary microphone, a pair of Wires, third. and fourth electrical connectors disposed respectively at opposite ends of the pair of Wires and adapted to be connected to the first and second electrical connectors.

JANVIER F. OHARA.

Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS liurn Name Date Re.22,198 Loewe Oct. 6, 1942 839,050 Turner Dec. 18, 1906 1,280,556 Scher Oct. 1, 1918 1,928,669 Lybarger Oct. 3, 1933 2,058,796 l-Iogle Oct. 27, 1936 2,160,829 Cherry June 6, 1939 Provenzano [is-.15 2,402,341 Patterson June 18, 1946 2,530,621 Lybarger Nov. 21, 1950 2,554,834 Lavery M May 29, 195i. 2,582,287 Shaper Jan. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Name Date 495,171 Great Britain Nov. 8, 1938 589,918 Great Britain July 3, 1947 

